Coffee farmers’ perception of bat guano as fertilizer in agroecosystems of Mexico
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Abstract
The abuse of inorganic fertilizers in coffee agroecosystems is a worldwide problem. In central Mexico, organic fertilizers are being introduced as an alternative way to restore soil fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate coffee farmers from central Veracruz's perceptions of bat guano as organic fertilizer. Surveys were conducted with closed and open questions followed by quantitative and qualitative analysis. Eighty-eight percent of the farmers surveyed negatively perceived bat guano. Factors influencing this perception were bats’ physical appearance, their role as disease transmitters, and the difficulties in procuring guano, including the resources needed to extract it, handle it, and transport it safely to their workplaces.
Resumen
El abuso de fertilizantes inorgánicos en los agroecosistemas del café es un problema mundial. En el centro de México se comienzan a emplear fertilizantes orgánicos como alternativa para restaurar los suelos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la percepción de los caficultores sobre el empleo del guano de murciélago como fertilizante. Se realizaron encuestas con preguntas abiertas y cerradas que se analizaron cuantitativa y cualtitativamente. El ochenta y ocho por ciento de los cafeticultores encuestados percibieron negativamente al guano de murciélago. Los factores que influyeron en esta percepción fueron: la apariencia física de los murciélagos, su rol como transmisores de enfermedades y las dificultades para adquirir el guano, incluyendo los recursos necesarios para extraerlo, manipularlo y transportarlo de manera segura a sus fincas cafetaleras.
Résumé
L'abus d'engrais inorganiques dans les agroécosystèmes de café est un problème mondial. Dans le centre du Mexique, les engrais biologiques commencent à être utilisés pour restaurer les sols. Notre recherche se proposait d'étudier la perception de l'utilisation du guano de chauve-souris comme engrais organique par les caféiculteurs. Des enquêtes semi-structurées (comprenant des questions ouvertes et fermées) ont été menées à partir de méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives. Quatre-vingt-huit pour cent des agriculteurs interrogés perçoivent ce guano de manière négative. Parmi les facteurs qui influencent cette perception se trouvent l'apparence physique des chauves-souris, la transmission de maladies et les difficultés pour acquérir le guano, y compris les ressources nécessaires pour l'extraire, le manipuler et le transporter en toute sécurité vers leurs exploitations.
Contributor Notes
M. GUADALUPE TORRES-JIMÉNEZ is an enthusiastic agronomist with an emphasis on sustainable farmer-agricultural social interactions, and how farmers can improve their well-being in the field from new sources of knowledge. Email: ing.jimeneztrrs@gmail.com
RENE MURRIETA-GALINDO is an ecologist with an emphasis on multidisciplinary studies on the conservation of natural resources. His research interests are to contribute with his knowledge to issues of relevance between human and wildlife interactions. Email: murrieta13@gmail.com. ORCID ID:
BEATRIZ BOLÍVAR-CIMÉ is an ecologist with multidisciplinary studies on bats. Her research interests are to understand the relevance and the coexistence between humans and wildlife. Email: bolivar_cime@yahoo.com. ORCID ID:
ASTRID WOJTAROWSKI-LEAL is an expert social anthropologist, with an emphasis on educational processes that involve social participation and empowerment of social groups. Email: astridwl72@gmail.com. ORCID ID:
M. ÁNGELES PIÑAR-ÁLVAREZ is an expert sociologist in the topics of social perception and rural ecotourism to improve the quality of life of people in places with problems of poverty and little knowledge by providing them with new ways to overcome events of socio-cultural type. Email: angelespinaralvarez@gmail.com. ORCID ID: